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Newcastle United will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City to sign James Maddison from Leicester City this summer.
The Lowdown: Long-term target
Newcastle have been targeting Maddison for quite some time, offering £50m for the midfielder last summer. The bid was rejected, with Leicester keen to hold out for £60m.
Pundit Noel Whelan has previously claimed that the Leicester ace may be available for a low transfer fee, in light of his contract expiring in 2024, however, given the level of interest from other Premier League clubs, it does not appear that will be the case…
The Latest: Transfer battle
According to a new report from Football Insider, the Magpies are battling it out with both Man City and Spurs to secure the signing of the 26-year-old in the summer, and his current club would be willing to cash in.
As per Football Insider sources, the Foxes will demand a fee of between £60m – £70m for the Englishman, meaning he’s now likely to be even more expensive than last summer despite his dwindling deal.
The Verdict: Get it done?
If the Magpies are able to negotiate Leicester down to the lower end of that spectrum, he would be a very good addition to Eddie Howe’s side, given the level of the performances that he has put in so far this season.
Hailed as an ‘elite baller’ by sections of the media, the maestro is in inspired form, recording 14 goal contributions in 17 Premier League appearances, scoring and assisting in the Foxes’ recent 4-1 victory against Spurs.
The former Coventry City man has captained his side in the last two matches, with Brendan Rodgers perhaps making a last-ditch attempt to tempt him into signing a new deal, however in truth he belongs at a club playing in European competition.
As such, the Magpies winning the race for Maddison could come down to them beating Tottenham to a top-four finish, and they are still in a good position to do so, currently one point behind Antonio Conte’s side with a game in hand.
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